Artists&#39; palette



March 20, 1956 M, s. KLEIN 2,738,606

ARTISTS PALETTE Filed April :s. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 ATTbRA/EK March 20, 1956 s, KLElN 2,738,606

ARTISTS PALETTE Filed April 3, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVE R.

1 Fig-1O MAX 3. KLE/ 8. gwQM ATTOEWE).

flited States Pat n t ments,-to .Palmer Ba'nn Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation-of ohio a lieafion a nrs;195s,=senar-No;s46,ss0

; 6' Claims. ((31. 41- 5 This invention relates to arti'sts palettes and more particularly to a paletteprovidinge supply er paints of various colors'in containers mounted on'the palette.

Conventional artists palettes usually are in" the form of a smooth plate. of wood or similar material, provided wltha thumb openinglforholding'the paints in various spots thereof and used. either as they come out of 'the tubes or are mixed on. the palette toigive various additional colors.

However, for a.number .o.f ye'arsfthere has been in the market a delnaridfor palettes for on paints, which palettes providea supply or paint of each. color desired for painting a certain picture, in containers mounted on the palette. With su'chv palettes, mixing .of paints of various colors on 'the, palette is. not contemplated and therefore a relatively large number of .such containers has to be. provided thereon. Palettes ofthisgeneral .nature havev heretofore utilized rsu'ch containers. .as medicinal capsules. 'When such. capsule is .used as "a. paint container, its lower. portion is..pressfittediinto a.hole provided onthe palette, whilethe upper portion or can: of the capsule is put overthe top ofithelower'portion.pro- "trudiug above'thepalette. .The capsules contain quantities of various paints ofall' desired pre-rnixed colorsthat are required. for. painting .a certain picture.

"Palettes such as'desc'rib'd above have been favorably received by" the publictprirn'a rily due to use in connection with canvases" havinggprinted "outlines 'of areas to be painted and numbered correspondingly with'thenuin'bers provided on the paletteto identify each of the paint colors in'lthe containers.

However, in practical use ahddistiibtrtion 'ofzsuch palettes, or sets including the same, and in .the'iusthere- 'of,2"there have been "found a'nuni'ber or serious disadvantages whichdiminished lgreatly thejsatisfactiori derived by the user and created a.nuinber er distribution difiicul- "ties. QFor iris'tancqshould abox containingi'suchapalette beturnd over in'transportatiomZthe paints may pene- "trate by' capiliary action between the surfaces of the capsule and, due .to various reasons, solidify therebe'tweeh, ."thus"glueing'iogether theporti'onsibflthe capsule. Re-

Imoving "the""cap of'sucha 'capsilleihen becomes a very "annoying: and-unpleasant 'operatiomfoften' resulting in "breakage or the capsule .and'ispreading of the. paint .on thepa'l'ette,- users fingersfand" furniture. Running apin "betweemthesurfaces oftthe capsule' portionshas' been "reco'mmended bymanufacturers. "*However,""since :many er stich paint 'setsare "used by children; and since for "opening the container in "such' a "manner removing "the container "from its nest on the palette is" required; -crimping 'ofthecontainer'while -holdingyas' well as tearing the eapsule-by the pin point, usually occurs. For this reason *the' above expedient affords no solution forthe' difliculties explained. i

lnuae'ditiony closing -sueh--ca'psn1e=-to prevent drying of 'tthe paints therein also proves to be ra'ther inessyeand inctnunvenient. :ttMroreove -filling bf'.=-sueh.:reapsuleswith "trpemtsirand eheir asseni'blyzonittheipatettes in'manufaetur- 2,738,606 Patented Mar. 20, 1956 2 ing is coupled with many difficulties and is slow and tedious.

One of the objects of'the-present-invention is to provide a palette siiitableforthe purposes e rplainedabove and method "of t making 'the same wherebythe above difficulties a'nd"disadvantages are overcome and-largely eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a palette for paints "incontainerawhich is convenient in use and 'with whichfspreadingof paints'and soiling of furniture or users'fingers is greatlyreduced.

A further object-of:the-present; invention is to provide an improved palette of theabove nature, ,andhaving containers of such a'construetionEthatopening them for-use, and resealingzthem for"reuse to prevent drying up of paints, is simple andeffective.

A further-object offthe present invention is to provide a palette'which-may'contain'a relatively large number of paint containers; which containers can be manufactured, filled with paints and-assembled in amnch si1np1er,"faster and economical manner than is possible with the palettes utilizing medicinal" capsules and similar containers.

A'stillfurtherobject o f'fthepresent invention is,to provide an improved-palette having various important advantages in distribution.

A-stillfurther objectof'the presentinvention is topsovide animproved method for manufacturing the palette of the nature: specified above.

Itis an added'ohject'of'ithe present invention to provide an improved palette with a. plurality offilled paint containers mounted thereon, which palette is simple and rugged in construction, dependablein' transportationand handling in stores,- and in use, and is relatively inexpensive'to'manufacture, being susceptible because of ,its construction -to high' quantity production.

Further'cbjectszand'advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, referencebeing'had to ft heaccornpanying drawings forminga'part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in' the "several-views.

Fig. 1 is.a perspective view of the palette embodying the present "invention, and :shown separately.

Fig. 2 'is a perspec'tive-viewfshowingthe complete set packaged'in abox and containing the, palette, .canvas, and

brushes.

Fig. 3 is .a transverse'sectional view t'aken-in;the di r ection of the arrows on; the section plane passing through "the" line 3'3. of 'Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4..is a'fragmentary. sectional viewtaken in the direction ofthe arrows on '-the section plane passing through the line"4'I-4 offllfig; 1.

Fig. 5 is atopwiewof the p'alettebody portion,- with said portionbeing unfolded and laiddown'flat.

Fig; 6 is a topyiewof a forming blockhor pattern for moldingthe .plastic containerisheet'of the palette.

Fig. 7 is. a" sectional view "showing the; forming block or pattern'fboaid'with a sheet-of plastic applied to it and having'its peripheraledges sealed, and with vacuum 'aboutto be applied for forming the sheet.

Fig.18 is a'p'erspective.viewshowing a formed containersheet.

"Fig. 9is a. fragmentary section'al view illustratingthe method offilling 'the container sheet of Fig, 8 Wampum of different colors.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a portion offthemultiple-container I unit with its conminers filled with-paint and sealed.

Fig; llis a ;fragmentary sectional view-showing the sealed m'ultiplet'containertunit.

lt is to t-be'zunde'rstoods that thetinyentionxis not; limited I in?its zapplicafionotoathe detailsmf: rconst-ruction. and ar- A a rangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In accordance with the invention, I discard the former practice of providing a number of individual containers and mounting each individual container on a palette in the individual nest provided thereon. In accordance with the invention, I provide an apertured palette body with a number of apertures corresponding to the number of desired containers. Thereupon, I make a multiple container unit having a plurality of containers formed thereon in an arrangement corresponding to that of the apertures on the palette body. Such container unit consists of a formed sheet of plastic or a similar material with containers formed thereon and filled with paint. The container sheet is covered with a thin sheet of plastic material and the sheets so assembled are operated upon to fuse together the plastic materials of the sheets around the edges of each container to hermetically seal the same. Thereupon, the container unit is mounted on the palette with containers being in registry with said apertures. I prefer to cement the container unit to the palette body from underneath thereof, with the container registering with the apertures. For use, the sealing sheet of plastic is ruptured with the end of the brush, a pencil point, a pin, or with another similar object, and the paint is used in the usual manner. For resealing the container, I use a strip of adhesive tape covering the ruptured container. An entire row of containers or only individual containers may be thus sealed with adhesive tape, using pieces of tape of corresponding lengths.

In the drawings there is shown, by way of example, a palette embodying the present invention. The drawings also illustrate the method of making the palette such as shown. Referring specifically to Figs. 15, the palette illustrated therein is adapted to be sold as a part of a set packaged in a box having a lower portion and a cover 31, and adapted to house within itself the palette, generally designated by the letter P, as well as other parts of the sets, such as a roll of canvas 32 and brushes 33.

The palette comprises generally two portions, a body portion generally designated by the letter B, and a container portion generally designated by the letter C, with said container portion C being mounted or secured to said body portion B. The body portion B is made in any suitable manner, such as by stamping, from a sheet of relatively stifi or rigid material such as cardboard, fiber, tin and the like, to have a top portion 35 having an outline of an artists palette with a thumb aperture 36, and a number of container apertures, such as 37, arranged preferably in a number of rows. In the embodiment illustrated, there are provided four rows of apertures, with seven apertures in each row. Depending flanges 38 are provided on the portion 35, said flanges having free inwardly bent ends 39. By virtue of providing said flanges, the palette stands on a flat surface and is supported by the lower edges of said flanges, thus preventing the bottoms of the individual paint containers 41 from bearing upon or contacting the supporting surface. This expedient also has advantages in distribution, since the lower ends of said containers do not contact the bottom of the box and are thus protected from being damaged in handling the The container unit comprises a formed sheet of plastic 40, see Fig. 8, in which there are formed depressions 1n a number and in arrangement corresponding to those of the apertures 37 in the padette body, said depressions forming, when completed, paint containers 41. I prefer to make the containers of a downwardly .collv-fifging pear-like shape. I found this shape to be convenient in use of the palette and also advantageous in forming as having considerable draft. However, any other suitable shape may also be utilized, particularly cylindrical form with slight draft to facilitate separating the formed sheet from the forming block. The containers 41 are filled with paints, preferably oil paints, of a number of desired colors and are sealed with the aid of a thin sheet of plastic 45 covering the container sheet and fused thereto around the edges of each individual container 41 to seal the same. Thus, the container unit when filled and sealed represents a self-sustained structure which can be handled and stored prior to its assembly to the palette body.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the container unit is assembled to the palette body by cementing it to the under surface of the palette body in a manner to have the tops of the containers in registry with the corresponding apertures. However, it will be understood that the container unit may be mounted on the palette and connected thereto in some other manner such, for instance, as by passing the lower ends of the containers through the apertures and pressing them down to have each container press fitted into the corresponding aperture. With such an expedient, cementing or glueing of the container unit to the palette may not be necessary.

Each aperture on the palette body is identified with a numeral or other character such as 42. If numerals are used, they preferably run consecutively from number one upward. The paint in the container corresponds to those numbers, and the same numeral is used to identify the color to be applied to an area on the canvas, at least in the same set.

It is preferable to fill each container with paint providing enough containers and to have all colors desired to complete a picture, without the necessity of mixing the paints on the palette or otherwise to get different colors.

In use of the palette, the user punctures the sealing sheet of the container of the color desired with the wooden end of the brush, a pencil point, a pin or any other suitable object and passes the bristle end of the brush through the opening so formed to dip the brush in the paint. In order to prevent drying up of the paint, the user may close the punctured container with a piece of adhesive tape, using a strip of desired length should covering several containers in a row be desired. Thereupon, when using the palette again, the user merely strips off the sealing tape.

Figs. 6-11 illustrate an improved method of manufacturing the container unit of my improved palette. In accordance with the invention I first provide a forming device including a forming block or board having a plurality of raised bosses, such as 51, corresponding in shape to the desired shape of the depressions or containers 41.

It is important to appreciate that while the formed sheet 40 for a single palette has only a relatively small number of containers, such as twenty-eight containers in the embodiment illustrated, and be of relatively small size such as 5" x 8", in forming a sheet I operate at the same time on a relatively large sheet, large enough to have several containers cut therefrom. The projections on the board may be formed either in groups as illustrated in Fig. 6, with space therebetween to provide sufficient material for marginal edges around the periphery of the container unit. However, under certain conditions it may be desirable to arrange such bosses uniformly on the board and cut the sheet into sections in any desired manner and of any desired number of containers in each section. It will be understood however, that with such an arrangement a wider spacing of the bosses is necessary.

The forming block 50 is arranged on the top of a suitable vacuum chamber 52 and forms a cover therefor.

A sheet 40a to be formed is arranged over the form board 50 as illustrated in Fig. 7, and its edges clamped around the board 50 with the aid of suitable sealing frame 53. Thereupon, vacuum is applied to the interior of the chamber 52. Since the board 50 is provided with holes 54 air is drawn from the spaces 55 between the bosses and the cover sheet 40a, and the sheet 40a is drawn tightly against the upper surface of the board. The sheet 40a is of a plastic material such as vinyl chloride. Generally, materials having therm-plastic properties, i. e., softening upon heating, are used. The sheets may be heated prior to their transfer to the forming block or may be heated in any suitable manner such as with the aid of heating lamps, after being arranged on the block. After the sheet is formed, the heating means are turned off and the sheet is permitted to cool in its complete form. Thereupon, the sheet is withdrawn from the forming device, and is cut in desired sections, such as shown in Fig. 8.

The formed and cut container sections such as 40 are then transferred to filling machines to be filled with paints. I prefer to use a filling machine capable of filling one complete row of containers at a time. In the present embodiment the filling machine illustrated in Fig. 9 fills one row of seven containers at the same time. It will be understood, however, that each container is filled with a paint of different color. In my practice, four filling machines are used to fill one container forming sheet 40, thus giving a container sheet filled with paint of 28 difierent colors. Thereupon, the container sheet 40 is covered with a thin sealing sheet 45a of plastic material, such, for instance, as vinyl acetate copolymer, and is transferred to a sealing machine, a portion of which is illustrated in Fig. 10. Said machine comprises means adapted to receive the filled sheet and to support the same around the edges of each container with the aid of a metal cylinder 57. An upper sealing member 58 operates on the sheet pressing or squeezing both plastic sheets together. The upper forming memberSS has an annular groove 58a registering with a complementary to the upper edges of the cylinder 57. The forming members 57 and 58 are heated, preferably electronically, and are adapted to be pressed together to heat the plastic and fuse it together, thus sealing each container.

In sealing, a ridge 60 is thus formed around each container, hermetically sealing the same. The container unit is thus completed and is ready to be mounted on the palette body in the manner explained above.

The formed container sheet 40 is made of a sheet of plastic of substantial thickness such as .010.0l", in order to form a container capable of retaining its shape and possessing sufficient strength. On the other hand, the sealing sheet is made of soft thin plastic such as .002"-- .003" in thickness, which while possessing suflicient strength as a sealing member, can be easily ruptured with a sharp point.

It will now be seen in view of the foregoing that instead of manufacturing, filling and assembling each paint container on the palette individually, I manufacture the entire container unit at once. In fact, in manufacturing the formed sheets therefor I can manufacture a large sheet, from which a number of container sheet sections may be cut out, all at the same time. By virtue of such an expedient the cost of the palette is greatly decreased, mistakes in manufacturing, in filling, or in the assembly thereof, are virtually eliminated, and a much better product is provided for the public at a. greatly reduced cost.

By virtue of the palette construction disclosed above and the method of manufacturing the same, the objects of the present invention listed above and numerous additional advantages are attained.

I claim:

1. A palette for a paint set, said palette comprising a palette body made of a sheet of relatively stiff material and provided with a number of apertures, and a multiplecontainer unit secured on said body with the containers of said unit being in registry with the apertures provided on the palette body, said multiple-container unit comprising a formed sheet of material substantially co-extensive with the apertured portion of the palette body and having a plurality of paint containers formed therein to register with the apertures in said body, a fiat sealing sheet substantially co-extensive with said formed sheet and arranged on the top thereof to cover and to seal said containers and forming when assembled to said formed sheet a multiplecontainer unit therewith.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, the multiple-container unit being cemented to the under surface of the palette body.

3. A palette for an oil paint set, said palette comprising a body unit made from a sheet of relatively rigid material and a multiple-container unit comprising a formed sheet of plastic with a plurality of containers formed thereon and filled with paint of desired colors, a flat plastic sealing sheet covering said formed sheet and sealing the containers thereof; said multiple-container unit being secured to the palette body to form a unitary structure.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, the body of said palette having downwardly depending flanges, with the paint containers terminating above the plane of the lower edges of said flanges.

5. A palette for an oil paint set, said palette comprising a body unit made from a sheet of relatively stiff material and provided with a plurality of apertures, and a multiple-container unit comprising a formed sheet of plastic with a corresponding plurality of paint containers formed thereon and filled with paint of desired colors, a fiat sheet of plastic material arranged to cover said containers and fused around the edges thereof to said formed sheet to seal said paintcontainers; said container unit being mounted on said palette with the individual containers thereof being in registry with the body apertures.

6. A palette for an oil paint set, said palette comprising a body unit made from a sheet of relatively stifi material and provided with a plurality of apertures, and a multiplecontainer unit comprising a formed sheet of plastic with a corresponding plurality of paint containers formed there on and filled with paint of desired colors, a fiat sheet of plastic material arranged to cover said containers and connected around the edges thereof to said formed sheet to seal said paint containers; said container unit being arranged underneath said palette and cemented to the underside surface thereof with the paint container registering with the body apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,266 Donaldson July 3, 1906 2,195,740 Salfisberg Apr. 2, 1940 2,513,852 Donofrio July 4, 1950 2,530,306 Land Nov. 14, 1950 2,563,455 Brown Aug. 7, 1951 2,578,444 Nicolle Dec. 11, 1951 

